Horizontally revolving stalk chopper



April 24, 1951 E. E. REEVES 2,550,085

HORIZONTALLY REVOLVING STALK CHOPPFR Filed April 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l I II I I 9c I 5 'II I 8A 0 8 I I 9 I I 86 fl'loc I I loo 4% doA I I 88 In I I IE1 1 9B IIA April 24, 1951 E. B. REEVES 2,550,085

HORIZONTALLY REVOLVING STALK CHOPPFR Filed April 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GJ J 6- 6A 6A Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HORIZONTALLY REVOLVING STALK CHOPPER Edgar B. Reeves, Raymondville, Tex.

Application April 29, 1948, Serial No. 24,039

' 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to stalk cutting machines for use in the field in rolling down, cutting and. chopping up corn stalks or the like, so that the same may be readily turned under by the plow.

The old types of stalk cutting machines embody a heavy cylinder with cutting blades extended longitudinally therealong in angularly spaced relation, with the said blades projecting radially from the cylinder, this cylinder being rotatably mounted at the rear end of a rigidly connected frame, the frame in turn being drawn over the field by a tractor or other vehicle. In this form of assembly, however, the action is very jerky, and spasmodic, and therefore very destructive to the vehicle to which it is attached.

It is the chief object of the present invention therefore to provide a stalk cutting machine of easy and flexible action and thus designed to eliminate the destructive wear and tear on the vehicle drawing it, and which will also do a better job of stalk cutting by reason of the fact that it is freely mounted to move up and down with great force as the cylinder and blades rotate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stalk cutting machine comprising a forwardly positioned wheel-borne frame with tongue extended therefrom as means for attachment to the vehicle provided for drawing the outfit, a rearwardly spaced cutter-reel frame having a bladed cutter-reel rotatably journaled at the lower side thereof, and pairs of connecting arms, with a pair thereof pivotally connected at their ends to the said wheel frame and cutter-reel frame, whereby as the machine is drawn over the field, the cutter-reel frame and blades are free to oscillate vertically, with the result that the blades work more effectively in cutting up the stalks, and the towing vehicle is relieved of undue strain and jerky action.

With the stated objects in view, together with such other and additional advantages as may appear from the specification, attention i now directed to the accompanying drawing as illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention. and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation.

Figure 4 is a front end elevation.

This improved stalk cutting machine comprises a forwardly positioned and elongated wheel frame 5 which may be of box-like formation as shown, and including side plates 512, end plates 51), and bottom plate 50, the top side being left open. Bearing plates 5d are extended down below the bottom plate 50 in tapered form for pro viding axle-shaft bearing plates. An axle-shaft E is rigidly extended at its ends as at 6a through the pendant bearing plates 5d, and wheels 1 are rotatably journaled upon the extended ends of the shaft. A tongue 8 is extended forwardly from the axle shaft 6 as means for hitching the machine to a tractor (not shown) for drawing the machine over the field in the process of cutting stalks. This tongue includes a pair of braces 8a secured at 8?) adjacent the ends of the axle shaft 6, and converged forwardly and connected with the hitch ring 80.

A cutter-reel frame 9 is provided, the same being generally similar to the wheel frame 5, and including the side plates 9a, end plates 92), bottom plate 9c and downwardly extended axleshaft bearing plates 903. A cutter-reel or cylinder I9 is provided, the same being regularly formed and of a length for positioning opera tively and endwise between the bearing plates 9d of the frame 9, this reel or cylinder having an axle shaft Illa extended axially therethrough and with its extended ends journaled through the bearing plates 901 as shown at [0b in Figure 1.

A number of stalk-cutter blades lllc (four as here shown) are mounted longitudinally and in equal angularly spaced relation and extended outwardly from the periphery of the cylinder [0. As here shown this cylinder I0 is indicated as of concrete construction, with the axle shaft Illa (Figure 2) and the butts of the blades lllc embedded in the concrete, but no invention is claimed in respect of the method of forming or constructing this unit of cylinder and blades, and any other conventional method than that designated may be used.

The frames 5 and Q and attachments as described, are arranged vertically, in parallel and spaced relation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are pivotally and operatively linked together by pairs of flat, elongated arms H, Ha, and I2, 12a, the arms 5 I, i to being mounted at one end of the frame and the arms l2, 12a. at the opposite end thereof. The arms are pivoted to the frame end plates 5b, 91), by means of headed studs l3, which are passed through the apertured ends of the arms and anchored in vertically spaced relation in the ends of the frames, as clearly shown in Figure 1. As shown in full lines in the drawings,-these arms are positioned in criss-cross relation, this arrangement being considered the more efficient method for connecting the frames, but if desired,

3 the arms may be extended straightly and horizontally between the frames.

Inv operation and use, with the construction shown, the frames '5, 9, may be weighted or ballasted as desired, and as the machine is towed or drawn along over or through a field of cornstalks or the like, the stalks are crushed fiat to the ground, and the vertically oscillating rear frame 9 and cutter-reel or bladed cylinder Ill will roll over the stalks, and the blades to thereof'will work upon them in manner above described, to thoroughly chop them up into short lengths or pieces.

While I have here shown and described a preat vertically spaced points, and the said arms beferred embodiment of the machine, and certain 15 I located and ballasted frame with a supporting and rolling stalk cutter reel, the improvement which comprises a pair of flat and elongated arms-ex- 25 tending between the front and rear frames'a-t each side, and said arms being pivotally attached at their respective front and rear ends to the frames each side so as to impart both upward and downward and forward and rearward chopping motions and action to the rear frame and cutter reel as the cutter reel rolls over uneven and irregular field surfaces.

EDGAR B. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 151,287 Herrold May 26, 1874 165,128 Smith June 29, 1875 257 ,993 Adams May 16, 1882 273,123 Miller Feb. 27, 1883 318,105 Meredith et a1 Apr. 17, 1906 1,553,462 Newton Sept 15, 1925 2,322,076 Watson June 15, 1943 2,422,409 Greenroyd c June 17, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 427,185 Germany Mar. 30, 1926 

